County Road Safety Plans Experiences with Development and Implementation

1. County Road Safety Plans Experiences with Development and Implementation Richard (Rick) West, PE Otter Tail County Public Works Director/County Engineer 2013 LTAP/TTAP National Conference Boise, ID July 22-25, 2013

2. Otter Tail County, MN Large rural county in West Central MN Land Area – 2232 square miles Population – 58,000 1048 Lakes Summer Population – 150,000 62 Townships 22 Cities

3. Otter Tail County Highway System 1052 miles of County Highways (all paved) 2427 miles of Township Roads 142 Bridges One third of County system has 11 foot lanes and 2 foot gravel shoulders. 707 Horizontal Curves

4. MN Counties Safety Background2004 – 2011 Traffic Safety Showcase – Mendocino Co, CA MN County Engineers Highway Safety Committee Local road safety research/implementation projects by MN Local Road Research Board Development of the MN Crash Mapping Analysis Tool Safe Communities Coalitions Strong relationships with Mn LTAP, Mn/DOT, FHWA, NACE, and ATSSA Counties involved in Mn/DOT TZD efforts from beginning (MN North Star Conference)

6. MN LRRB Safety-Related Projects Advanced Dynamic LED Warning Signs for Rural Intersections Powered by Renewable Energy (2007 and 2011) Development of a digital highway framework to facilitate crash avoidance systems: Serving county roads (2012) Analysis of Highway Design and Geometric Effects on Crashes (2010) MN Crash Mapping Tool (2008) Rural Road Safety Solutions Workshops (2008) Maintain a Safer Roadway Workshops (2010) Estimating the Crash Reduction and Vehicle Dynamic Effects of Flashing LED Stop Signs (2009) Best Practices and Policy Guidance County Roadway Safety(2011) Best Practices for Sign Reduction on the Local System (2011) Lighting Levels for Isolated Intersections Leading to Safety Improvements (2012) Traffic Sign Life Expectancy (2012)

7. Minnesota Crash Mapping Analysis Tool (MnCMAT) In order to assist cities and counties in gaining a better understanding of crash characteristics on their systems, Minnesota Local Road Research Board and Minnesota County Engineers Association (MCEA) have made the MnCMAT tool available Map–based computer application that provides 10 years of crash data for every roadway in Minnesota Individual crashes are spatially located by reference point along all roadways Up to 67 pieces of information are provided for each crash, including route, location (reference point), date/day/time, severity, vehicle actions, crash causation, weather, road characteristics, and driver condition Analysts can select specific intersections or roadway segments for study. An overview of the entire county, city, MnDOT district or tribal government can also be generated.

8. Minnesota Crash Mapping Analysis Tool (MnCMAT) The recommended analytical process for conducting a safety/crash study is to compare Actual conditions at a specific location (intersection or segment of highway) compared to Expected conditions (based on documenting the average characteristics for a large system of similar facilities). MnCMAT supports this analytical process by providing both the data for individual locations and for larger systems – individual or multiple counties. For more information about MnCMAT, consult the website: http://www.dot.state.mn.us/stateaid/sa_crashmapping.html

9. Greater Minnesota Crash Data Overview Source: MnCMAT Crash Data, 2004-2008 Severe is fatal and serious injury crashes (K+A). 5 Year Crashes 165,739 5,770 -ATP’s 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, and 8 – NO Metro Example All – % Severe – % State System 76,992 – 46% 2,362 – 41% CSAH/CR 39,073 – 24% 2,242 – 39% City, Twnshp, Other 49,674 – 30% 1,166 – 20% Rural 24,474 – 63% 1,860 – 83% Urban 14,599 – 37% 382 – 17% Animal 4,407 – 18% 74 – 4% Not Animal 20,067 – 82% 1,786 – 96% Unknown/Other 1,880 – 13% 23 – 6% Not Inters-Related 5,271 – 36% 199 – 52% Inters-Related 7,448 – 51% 160 – 42% Unknown/Other 1,502 – 7% 66 – 4% Inters-Related 5,938 – 30% 535 – 30% Not Inters-Related 12,627 – 63% 1,185 – 66% Run Off Road – 1,283 (24%), 74(37%) Head On – 361 (7%), 27 (14%) Rear End – 1,315 (25%),21 (11%) Right Angle – 529 (10%),18 (9%) Other/Unknown 2,755 – 47% 248 – 46% Signalized 249 – 4% 5 – 1% All Way Stop 199 – 3% 19 – 4% Thru-Stop 2,735 – 46% 263 – 49% Head On, SS Opp 821 – 7% 129 – 11% Run Off Road 8,367 – 66% 790 – 67% Signalized 2,189 – 29% 36 – 22% All Way Stop 438 – 6% 6 – 4% Thru-Stop 2,810 – 38% 70 – 44% Other/Unknown 2,011 – 27% 48 – 30% Run Off Road – 1,047 (38%),93 (38%) Right Angle – 297 (11%),50 (20%) Head On – 119 (4%),26 (11%) Left Turn – 186 (7%), 20 (8%) On Curve 284 – 35% 47 – 36% On Curve 3,550 – 42% 399 – 51% Right Angle – 651 (30%), 20 (56%) Rear End – 753 (34%),5 (14%) Left Turn – 361 (17%), 4 (11%) Head On – 70 (3%), 2 (6%) Right Angle – 1,359 (48%),41 (59%) Head On – 70 (3%),7(10%) Left Turn – 283 (10%), 4 (6%) Rear End – 368 (13%), 4 (6%) Right Angle – 968 (35%),145 (55%) Run Off Road – 360 (13%),23 (9%) Left Turn – 183 (7%),11 (4%) Rear End – 287 (11%), 8 (3%)

10. Severe Injury Crash Density(Howard Preston, CH2M Hill)

11. Project Approach Month 5 Month 1 Month 4 Month 5 Develop Comprehensive List of Safety Strategies Crash Analysis Select Safety Emphasis Areas Safety Workshop Kick-off Video Conference Review Mtg w/ Counties Project Programming Project Development Implementation Evaluation Refinement & Update SHSP Month 7 Identify Short List of Critical Strategies Identify Safety Projects Month 6 Month 9 Safety Plan

12. Plan Contents Description of Safety Emphasis Areas. Identification of high priority, low cost Safety Strategies. Documentation of at-risk locations on roadway segments, horizontal curves, and intersections based on crash data. Development of $7,200,000. of suggested safety projects. Cost of plan development - $40,000.

13. Risk Factors Curves (707) Curve Radius Traffic Volumes Intersection in Curve Visual Trap Crash Experience Intersections (244) • Geometry – Inter. Skew • Geometry – Roadway (on or near curve) • Commercial Development in Quadrants • Distance to Previous STOP • ADT Ratio • R/R Crossing on Min. Appr. • Crash History

14. Risk Factors Segments • ADT Range • Access Density • Road Departure Density • Critical Radius Curve Density • Edge Risk

15. Summary of Results from Prioritized Segments

16. Otter Tail County High Priority Segment Map

17. Otter Tail County Segment Project Summary

20. Sample Segment Project Form

21. 2009-10 District 4 HSIP Lane Marking and Curve Enhancements 12 counties 1670 miles of 6 inch edge lines 46 miles of Rumble StripEs 325 Horizontal Curves – 2267 chevrons Contract - $1.6 million

22. D4 County Intersection Lighting Project • Scope • Six Counties • 30 Intersections • Install Overhead Lighting at Intersections • Cost • $360,000.

23. Otter Tail County Intersection Signing Upgrade Project • Scope • County Wide • 91 Intersections • TH Junction Signs • Stop Ahead Markings • Stop Bars • Cost • $158,000.

24. Otter Tail County CSAH Shoulder Paving/Rumble Stripe Project • Scope • CSAH 9 • 5.3 Miles • 4’ Paved Shoulder • 1’ Rumble • 6” Stripe • Cost • $293,000.

25. Future HSIP Projects

26. Summary Provides information to educate the County Board and the public. Provides data sheets for HSIP funding applications. Provides practitioners with a detailed, prioritized county-wide, safety plan to guide and support future safety investments. The benefits far out weigh the challenges.

27. Websites Otter Tail County Roadway Safety Plan: Mn/DOT Office of State-Aid: www.dot.state.mn.us/stateaid or rwest@co.ottertail.mn.us. MN Best Practices and Policies for Safety Strategies on Highways and Local Roads: Same as above. Or my friend Google.

28. Thank youRichard WestOtter Tail County Public Works Director/County Engineer Phone: 218-998-8473 Email: rwest@co.ottertail.mn.us Address: 505 S. Court St., Suite 1 Fergus Falls, MN 56537